A new lawsuit is painting a damning picture of what former FBI leaders describe as a political purge at the bureau. Three senior FBI officials are suing FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Trump administration.
The officials, all fired last month, are claiming the dismissals were not based on performance. Instead, they’re alleging the firings were influenced by pressure from the White House and social media bullying by MAGA loyalists.
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Accusations against Patel
The plaintiffs — former acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll, former assistant director in charge of the Washington field office, Steven Johnson, and former special agent in charge of the Las Vegas field office, Spencer Evans — filed the 68-page complaint accusing Patel of putting politics above public safety.
They say Patel “not only acted unlawfully but deliberately chose to prioritize politicizing the FBI over protecting the American people.”
The lawsuit alleges Patel deliberately targeted anyone connected to previous Trump criminal investigations, despite Patel testifying during his confirmation that no one would be punished simply for doing their jobs.
According to the lawsuit, “Patel explained that there was nothing he or Driscoll could do to stop these or any other firings, because ‘the FBI tried to put the President in jail and he hasn’t forgotten it.’”
It also alleges that Patel told Driscoll the firings were retaliatory. Patel reportedly said, “All FBI employees who they identified who had worked on the cases against President Trump would be removed from their jobs, regardless of their retirement eligibility status.”
The lawsuit states Patel was aware that the firings violated FBI rules designed to protect agents. He reportedly knew that he would likely be sued for these actions.
“Patel acknowledged that this would be in direct violation of internal FBI processes,” the lawsuit says. “He again commented that he knew the nature of the summary firings were likely illegal and that he could be sued and later deposed.”
Political loyalty accusations
The lawsuit also claims Trump’s transition team vetted Driscoll with what he described as a political loyalty test.
He says he was asked who he voted for in recent elections, including whether he voted for any Democrats. Additionally, he alleges they asked if he agreed that agents who searched Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property should be held accountable.
Patel reportedly told Driscoll that “as long as Driscoll was not prolific on social media, did not donate to the Democratic Party, and did not vote for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, the ‘vetting’ would not be an issue.”
Current status of the lawsuit
The case now heads to federal court in Washington, raising serious questions about whether the nation’s top law enforcement agency was manipulated for political gain.
The plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to declare their termination “a legal nullity” and want a “name-clearing hearing.” They’re also asking for their jobs back.
The FBI and Department of Justice have not yet commented.
